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(CNSNews.com) – When asked Thursday if he had read the 1,648-page National Defense Authorization bill, which was passed later that day in the House of Representatives on a 300-to-119 vote, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) would not answer the question and said, “I don’t want to talk about it!”
Waxman, who is serving his 20th term in the House and is retiring at the end of the year, ended up voting against the legislation on Thursday afternoon.
At the U.S. Capitol, CNSNews.com asked Waxman, “Can I ask you about the National Defense Authorization bill?”
Waxman responded, “I don’t want to talk about it,
CNSNews.com then asked, “Have you read all 1,648 pages of the final text of the National Defense Authorization bill?”
Waxman did not respond.
According to the roll call vote issued by the House Clerk’s office, Waxman voted against the bill but has not issued a statement or spoken about why he voted against it.
The full, final text of the bill was posted online by the House at 10:32 p.m. on Tuesday. It was posted then despite a pledge made by Republicans during the 2010 elections to publish the text of bills at least three days ahead of a vote as part of its “Pledge to America.”
In the section of the pledge entitled, “Read the Bill,” it states: “We will ensure that bills are debated and discussed in the public square by publishing the text online for at least three days before coming up for a vote in the House of Representatives. No more hiding legislative language from the minority party, opponents, and the public. Legislation should be understood by all interested parties before it is voted on.”
Rep. Howard 'Buck' McKeon, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. (AP Photo)
Rep. Buck McKeon (R-Calif.) is chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and Rep. Adam Smith (D.-Wash.) is ranking member.
The bill authorizes funding for the Department of Defense and defense-related activities in the Department of Energy.
The bill also includes a section establishing a federal commission with the mandate to come up with a legislative plan for a National Museum of Women’s History, and, as reported by the Washington Post, creates new national parks.
“Tucked inside the bill's more than 1,600 pages is language creating six national parks,” said The Post.